Window package for articles



Nov. 13, 1962 w. H. SCHOLL 3,063,557

WINDOW PACKAGE FOR ARTICLES Filed May 12, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 fnzfenfur' Wz'iiim Mfcia Nov. 13, 1962 w. H. SCHOLL 3,063,557

WINDOW PACKAGE FOR ARTICLES Filed May 12, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 [Hz 527. 01" William N. 5ca

United States Patent O 3,063,557 I WINDOW PACKAGE FOR ARTICLES William M. Scholi, 211-213 W. Schiller St., Chicago, Ill. Filed May 12, 1960, Ser. No. 28,782 2 Claims. (Cl. 2il6--78) This invention relates to improvements in a window package for articles, and more particularly to a window package which not only contains the articles but also renders them visible to a prospective purchaser, the invention being highly desirable for the packaging of sanitary articles whereby the purchaser may see the structure and size of the particular article without handling the same and can thereby make the proper selection without damage to any of the articles or the packages themselves, the invention being useful for the packaging of such items as surgical pads, plasters, bandages, as well as numerous other items including edibles, medications, pills or tablets, and various other items, including industrial items, all as will be apparent to one skilled in the art.

In the past, many and various types of window packages for various types of articles have been developed. 1

In many cases, however, these formerly known devices were more fragile than is desired and injury too frequently occurred to the package and possibly to its contents by virtue of customer handling. In other cases, the construction of the devices were not such that a customer could visualize or see immediately the total of the contents of the package, and this was particularly desirable in the event there were a number of different kinds or sizes of articles in the same package, so that the customer might at first glance learn the relative sizes and number of the articles without the need of actually handling the package itself, and certainly without the need of opening the package and exposing the contents. In other instances, formerly known packages of this general character, while capable of maintaining the contents or articles in a sanitary and clean condition until the package was opened, were not capable of thereafter maintaining the unusedarticles in a clean and sanitary condition.

With the foregoing in mind, it is an important object of the instant invention to provide a durable window package, capable of considerable handling without injury, and which is designed to render visible its entire contents.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a win dow package for articles in which the transparent part of the package remains intact during the removal of all of the articles from the package, and a package in which remaining articles are kept in a clean and sanitary condition after the removal of only a portion of the articles, substantially regardless of how many times the package may be opened and an article removed.

It is a further desideratum of the instant invention to porvide a window package for articles, wherein the trans parent portion of the package forms a box-like structure to enclose the articles.

Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of a window package for articles comprising a substantnally flat backing member with a transparent boxlike structure thereon, the opening to the package being through the back, and there being means for reclosing the opening after each article is removed to maintain the remainder of the articles in a clean and sanitary condition.

Still a further feature of this invention resides in the provision of a window package for articles wherein the articles are mounted upon a backing member, and then an open bottomed box-like formation of thermoplastic material is heat sealed to the backing member around the articles so as to effectively enclose them, access to the articles being provided through the backing or base member of the package.

It is also a feature of this invention to provide a new and novel method of packaging articles in a window type package.

While some of the more salient features, characteristics and advantages of this invention have been above pointed out, others will become apparent from the following dis closures, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a window package embodying principles of the instant invention;

FIGURE 2 is a bottom plan view of the structure of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially as indicated by the line III-III of FIGURE 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, and indicating how the contents of the package may be removed;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially as indicated by the line IV--IV of FIGURE 1, but showing only the contents of the package;

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of a window package embodying the principles of the instant invention but of slightly different construction;

FIGURE 6 is a bottom plan view of the structure of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially as indicated by the line VII-VII of FIGURE 5, also illustrating the manner in which the contents of the package may be removed; and

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially as indicated by the line VIIIVIII of FIGURE 5, but illustrating the contents of the package only.

As shown on the drawings:

With reference now to FIGURES 1 to 4 inclusive, it will be seen that the first illustrated embodiment of the instant invention comprises a backing or base member 1 which may be of any suitable material such as stiffened paper, cardboard, a plastic strip, or any other substance of reasonable stiffness to maintain the ultimate package in proper shape and resist the effects of frequent handling. This base member 1, as best seen in FIGURES 2 and 3, is provided with a pivoted closure portion 2 defined by a score or fold line 3 at one side thereof, and by a perforated or tear line 4 on the other three sides. As seen in FIGURE 2, a pull tab is defined by a portion of the tear line 4 opposite the fold line 3. In this instance, the closure flap is disposed adjacent one end of the base member 1.

In order to form a window package, a preformed boxlike structure 6 of transparent thermoplastic material, such as an acetate, for example, is disposed on the front face of the base 1. This box-like structure 6 has a peripheral flange 7 projecting therefrom for intimate face to face contact with the base member.

In the event the base member 1 is not formed of a thermoplastic material, it is preferably provided with a thermoplastic coating on its upper surface at least in the marginal portion where it underlies the margin 7 of the closure or box-like structure 6. Such coating may be applied by painting, dipping, spraying, and may comprise a suitable acetate or vinyl thermoplastic. The flange 7 of the window closure 6 is preferably united to the base member by heat sealing brfween the margin 7 and the By way of example, and not by way of'limitation, in

order to properly present the invention, the articles se-' lected for illustrative purposesv comprise a series. of corn or callus pads 8. Each of these pads, as seen in FIGURE 4, may comprise a body portion 9 of cushioning material having an afllictionreceiving opening ltktherethrough and provided; on its. undersurface with a pressure sensitive adhesive spread, 11 for attaching the pad to the body of the user. The adhesive surfaces of the pads are temporarily protected, until the pad isactually put to use by the ultimate consumer, bymeans ofa facing strip 12 which may be parchmentizedpaper, a, thermoplastic material such as cellophane, acetate, or vinyl plastic, or a strip of paper or cardboard surfaced with such thermoplastic material. In anyevent, the facing sheet 1211s of or coatedwith a material not compatible with the adhesive, but whichwill adhere. tothe adhesive sufficiently to protect the same and not injury the adhesive surface when the pad-v is removed from the facing; sheet.

In preparingthe package, it is preferable to place the facing sheetcanryingthe; pads s on the, base member 1, and then dispose the preformed box-like structure 6 on the base. member over the pads. Thereafter the margin 7 of the box-like structure is heat sealed to the base 1,

In use, the completed package may be: relatively roughly handled during. shipment to dealers, or retailers, disposition upon counters or display boards, and by prospective customers; without any injury to the structure and without any danger of contamination of the contents of the package. All of'thecontents are visible all the time, so that a prospective customer even withouttouchingthe package can determine the proper size and shape of the articles desired. When it is desired to use a pad, it is. a simple expedient for the purchaser to. disrupt the pull tab on the base 1 with a fingernail or any suitable instrument, and then disrupt the complete tear line 4, pull. the flap 2 downwardly as seen in FIGURE 3 and pull out. the end portion of the facing sheet 12 sufiiciently to expose one or more pads as may be desired at. the time. The facing sheet may then be severed and the. desired. number of pads removed, and the flap l pressed back into position, there being sufficient edge friction between the. flap and the base member to hold the flap in closed position and protect the contents of the package against contamination until another pad may bedesired. From the showing-in FIGURE 2 it Willbe seen that the facing sheet-12 projects over the flap 2 in a position to be readily accessible when that flap isbent to open position.

Obviously the package is economical to manufacture, efiectively protects itscontents-while leaving akl of the contents visible, and presents an extremely pleasing appearance to the customer which adds to the saleability of the merchandise in the package.

Should it be desired to display the package and its contents on a peg board or some similar mounting stand, a hole 13 may be punched through the heat seal marginal portion of the package for that purpose, the. hole not efiecting any opening of the package whatever.

In the second illustrated modification of the invention, seen. in FIGURES 5 to 8 inclusive, there is provided a base member 14 and a box-like structure or closure of transparent plastic material designated 15 and provided 'With a peripheral margin 16 heat sealed or equivalently secured. to the-base member, all as described in connection with the first embodiment.

In this instance, the base member is provided with a substantially centrally disposed closure fiap l7 defined by a scored or fold line 18 along one side, and a perforate or tear line '19 along the other three sides, the line 19 being so formed as to define a pull tab 20 opposite the fold line 18.

In this instance, by way of example, the package is shown containing a plurality of articles generally indicated by numeral 21. These articles are also in the form of surgical pads, each of which comprises a body part 22 of cushioning material having an afiliction receiving aperture 23 therein and a pressure sensitive adhesive spread 24 on the undersurface thereof; A cover of any suitable material, indicated by numeral 25 is disposed over the body portion and the afiii'ction: receiving aper-. ture as well. In thisinstance, however, eachpad is shown mounted upon a. separate facing strip or sheet, these strips being indicated by numerals 26, 2.7 and 28. As seen best in. FIGURES 5 and 7, it will be noted that the centrally disposed pad, hasv its facing sheet 27 underlying the adjacent marginal portions of the facing. sheets 26 and 28 Preferably the facing sheet 27 is not as long as the width of the closure fiap 17, while thefacing sheets 2s and 28 each hasv a marginal portion projecting over the opening provided when the closure flap is bent to the position seen in FIGURE 7'. When it is desired to remove. one. of the pads from the package, it is a simple expedient to break open-the flap 17, whereupon the center pad is readily accessible and may be removed without interfering with; the other pads'or the positioning of the other pads. When another pad is desired, either the pads of the left or righthand side of the opening may be readily removed by grasping; the marginal portion of the facing sheet that projects over the opening; Thus, the package is well adapted to permitentirelyseparated articles to be removed one ata time from the package.

As. in the case of the, previous embodiment, it is preferable to first assemble the pads on the base member, then place the transparent closure. 15 thereover and join the marginal portion 16 of the closure or cover to the base member.

In the case of either modification, the base member may be printed with any desired indicia, and the: respec-. tive tear flap 2. or 17 may be scoredat the. same time the base member is. printed.

The two forms of articles. illustrated herein are by way of example only and are indicative of the fact that many and various types of articles may be encased in a window package of the typeherein set forth.

It willbe understood that modifications. and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

-I claim as my invention:

1. In a window package for articles, a base member, a plurality of articles on said base member, a separate carrying sheet for each article to which the respective article is temporarily attached, a tear flap formed in said base member substantially centrally of said articles, the carrying sheet for each article being of less size than the opening provided when said tear flap is opened, the central article being positioned over said tear flap, the articles to each side of said central article having marginal portions of the carrying sheets overlying the margins of the central article, and a transparent cover secured to said base member to enclose said articles.

2.. In a. window. package for articles, a base member, a tear flap. formed in said; base member substantially centrally thereof, a transparent; closure sealed to said base around the peripheral margin of said base over one face thereof, a plurality of articles having adhesive undersurfaces temporarily protected by individual and separate facing sheets on said base member inside said closure, the center of one. of'said. articles andv its facing sheet being smaller than said tear flap and overlying the same, and ad- References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Scholl Oct. 25, 1938 Dukehart Dec. 18, 1945 Olsen Mar. 11, 1952 6 Langford Aug. 11, 1953 Cox May 28, 1957 La Padura Aug. 12, 1958 Hahn June 30, 1959 Kahn May 23, 1961 Schumann Oct. 17, 1961 OTHER REFERENCES Modern Packaging, page 119, September 1957. 

